Pickpocket-proof pocketbook



A. TEQPILIAN -Aug. 9; 1966 PIcKPocxET-PRbbF Po'cKETBooK Filed Sept. 14, 1964 United States Patent Office 3,265,424 Patented August 9, 1966 3,265,424 PIQKPOCKET-PRUOF POCKETBGOK Aram Teopilian, 301 100th St., Apt. 3A, Brooklyn, N.Y. Filed Sept. 14, 1964, Ser. No. 396,136 4 Claims. (Cl. 292-145) This invention relates generally to pocketbooks and the like, and more particularly to a pocketbook construction which is pickpocket-proof.

Certain types of pocketbooks are especially vulnerable to being surreptitiously opened and their contents are thus easily stolen. It is therefore among the objects of the present invention to provide novel and useful pocketbook construction which requires certain predetermined motions, and sequence thereof, of the latching element in order to open and lock the pocketbook in the closed position thereof.

Another object herein lies in the provision of structure of the class described in which, when it is desired by the user, less extensive latching element movements may be involved.

A feature of the invention is that the construction is simple and light in weight so that it may be incorporated into various types and styles of handbags, pocketbooks, and purses, and the invention may have a consequent wide distribution and use.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages will more fully appear in the progress of this disclosure and be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary view in perspective of a preferred embodiment of the invention in the fully locked position thereof.

FIGURE 2 is a view comparable to FIGURE 1, but shows the position of the parts at the completion of the first stage in opening the device.

FIGURE 3 is a view comparable to FIGURE 2, but shows a second stage in opening the device.

FIGURE 4 is a view comparable to FIGURE 3 but shows the third stage in opening the device.

FIGURE 5 is a view comparable to FIGURE 4 but shows the fourth stage in opening the device.

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary, generally vertical sectional view as seen from the plane 66 on FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view as seen from the plane 77 on FIGURE 6.

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view as seen from the plane 8-8 on FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 9 is a view in perspective of a pocketbook embodying the present invention.

In accordance with the invention, the device, generally indicated by reference character 10, comprises broadly: a pocketbook 12; first and second frame elements 14 and 16; a relatively stationary latch element 18, a relatively movable latching element 20; horizontal guide means 22 and vertical guide means 24,

The pocketbook 12 may be of any suitable type, preferably one in which the opening thereof is closable by first and second frame elements 14 and 16 which are pivotally movable with respect to each other. As will be obvious to those skilled in the art to which the present invention relates, other arrangements may be utilized provided the frame elements register with each other when they close. e

The frame element 14 is preferably U-shaped in cross section and has secured thereto the stationary latch element, the configuration of which is best seen in FIGURES 5 and 8. The element 18 is provided with a headed pin 26, the exposed shank of which is substantially equal in length to the thickness of the movable latching element. The pin 26 projects in the general direction of the movable latching element.

The frame elment 16 is preferably U-shaped in cross section and has disposed between the two depending portions 28 and 30 the horizontal guide means 22. The guide means 22 is generally U-shaped in cross section and is open at the top where it abuts against the under surface of the top wall 32. Means 22 has an opening 34 (FIG. 6) down through its bottom wall 36, and a space 39 between the two vertical members 37 and 38. The length of the opening 34 and the space 39 is equal to the horizontal travel of the vertical guide means 24. The other vertical member 46 of the horizontal guide means 22 extends beyond the vertical members 37 and 38 to form tab ends 40 by means of which it is secured to the depending portion 28 by rivets or screws 41,

Slidably disposed, for horizontal reciprocal motion within the horizontal guide means 22, is the vertical guide means 24 which is generally of inverted T-shaped. The crossbar of the guide means forms two arms 42 and 44 which are shown at their left-most position by the dotted lines in FIGURE 6 and their right-most position by their dash-dot outlines in FIGURE 6. The uppermost portion of the vertical guide means has a pair of tabs 46 which project up through the elongated slot 48 in the top wall.

The movable latching element 20 is mounted for longitudinal reciprocation, being guided at the upper portion thereof by the tabs 46 which are U-shaped in horizontal section, and by the margins of the openings 34 at the lower portion thereof. The extent of the travel of the latching element 20 is limited by a screw which engages the portion 54 (FIGURE 2) of the vertical guide means 24 and is disposed in the limiting slot 56 in the latching element 20. In the drawings, the upper end of element 20 is rolled to form a handle 21, but many different decorative handles may be used. The lower portion of element 20 is provided with a main irregular slot 19, 'best seen in FIGURES 1 and 6. It is generally shaped like a U on its side, and has a rounded enlarged. portion 58 of a size sufficient to allow the head 27 of pin 26 to pass through while the rest of slot 19 fits the shank 25 to slide therealong. Slot 19 includes a lower horizontal portion 60, a vertical portion 62, and an upper horizontal portion 64.

One mode of operation is as follows: With the pocketbook open (FIGURE 5), the latch element 20 is pulled to its limits upward and to the right, as seen in FIG- URE 5. Now the frame elements 16 and 14 are swung together, the head 27 projecting through portion 58 (FIG- URE 4). This closes the pocketbook but does not lock it The next step involves shifting the element 20 to the left (FIGURE 3). The back is partially locked. Now element 20 is pushed down whereupon the parts will take the position shown in FIGURE 2. A second locking step has been completed.

The last locking step requires the element 20 to be shifted to the right and the parts will appear as seen in FIGURE 1. The pocketbook is now fully locked and will require three separate opening movements in different directions, making surreptitious opening substantially impossible. As will be understood, the user may perform a choice of one or more such movement, dependent upon the degree of security desired.

I wish it to be understood that I do not consider the invention limited to the exact details of construction shown and set forth in this specification, for obvious modications will occur to a person skilled in the art to which the present invention relates.

I claim:

1. Pickpocketproof pocketbook construction, compris- (a) a first frame element;

(b) a second frame element;

(c) means for associating said first and second frame elements for movement toward and away from each other;

((1) a relatively stationary latching element having a projection and an enlargement thereon connected to said first frame element;

(e) a relatively movable latching element having a slot formed with portions extending in different directions with a widened portion to receive said enlargement;

(f) horizontally movable guide means associated with the second frame element;

(g) vertical guide means associated with the horizontal guide means;

said movable latching element being disposed in said vertical guide means; whereby the movable latching element is engageable with the projection on the stationary latch element by a movement of the latching element substantially in its own plane.

2. Structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the movable latching element has a motion-limiting means correlated to said slot.

3. Structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the slot has a lower horizontal portion and a vertical portion.

4. Structure as claimed in claim 1 in which the slot has a lower horizontal portion, a vertical portion, and an upper horizontal portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 10,887 12/1887 Reinisch. 368,685 8/1887 Prahar. 1,284,741 11/1918 McManus. 2,128,001 8/1938 Kotchavar et al. 292-302 EDWARD c. ALLEN, Primary Examiner.

R. E. MOORE, Assistant Examiner. 

1. PICKPOCKETPROOF POCKETBOOK CONSTRUCTION, COMPRISING: (A) A FIRST FRAME ELEMENT; (B) A SECOND FRAME ELEMENT; (C) MEANS FOR ASSOCIATED SAID FIRST AND SECOND FRAME ELEMENTS FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER; (D) A RELATIVELY STATIONARY LATCHING ELEMENT HAVING A PROJECTION AND AN ENLARGEMENT THEREON CONNECTED TO SAID FIRST FRAME ELEMENT; (E) A RELATIVELY MOVABLE LATCHING ELEMENT HAVING A SLOT FORMED WITH PORTIONS EXTENDING IN DIFFERENT DIRECTIONS WITH A WIDENED PORTION TO RECEIVE SAID ENLARGEMENT; (F) HORIZONTALLY MOVABLE GUIDE MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE SECOND FRAME ELEMENT; (G) VERTICAL GUIDE MEANS ASSOCIATE WITH THE HORIZONTAL GUIDE MEANS; SAID MOVABLE LATCHING ELEMENT BEING DISPOSED IN SAID VERTICAL GUIDE MEANS; WHEREBY THE MOVABLE LATCHING ELEMENT IS ENGAGEABLE WITH THE PROJECTION ON THE STATIONARY LATCH ELEMENT BY A MOVEMENT OF THE LATCHING ELEMENT SUBSTANTIALLY IN ITS OWN PLANE. 